A sequel was inevitable and those guys from
BioWare
have refined their original game, streamlining certain gaming
elements that caused some issues with Mass Effect 1. Even so, Mass Effect revolutionised the world of science
fiction RPG's and if you have any interest in either sci-fi or
role-playing games, than you really should check this amazing story
that returns gamers to this futuristic universe of both familiar and
unfamiliar places.

Considerable darker than the original game,
players are once again reunited with Sheppard, an almost Han Solo
type archetype, however the player has full control on their
alignment and direction. With a story bigger than Ben Herr, Sheppard
is once again drawn into something that he would rather leave alone
and due to his questionable acquaintances, you need to assist
Sheppard in discovering why human colonies around the galaxy are
disappearing.

Like all good RPG titles, Sheppard is not alone and as
you progress through the game, you will soon acquire quite a Motley
bunch of "friends" to assist you in your journey whom all have their
own agendas such as the ultra sexy Miranda or the alien assassin
Thane. With your crew assembled, it's time to embark on your
spacecraft, the Normandy SR-2 and needless to say, you're going to
need all the friends and firepower that you can muster because if
you thought the original story was epic, BioWare have definitely set a
new bar in Mass Effect 2.

To compliment the RPG aspect of this
genre, the story is progressed nicely through conversations between NPC's that give the player a choice of actions with real
repercussions. Of course this is where alignment comes into play but
unlike Dungeons & Dragons, the spectrum is not limited to black or
white. A really cool aspect to the conversations are interruptions as
just like real-life or the movies more so, conversations can
sometimes be interrupted for impromptu action situations that makes the
game feel more real and less staged.

In terms of character creation, this is done at
the start of the game which acts as a tutorial and determines some
of your alignment plus which archetype class you'll become such as
Soldier, Infiltrator, Vanguard, Sentinel, Adept or Engineer. Each
class is of course different in terms of what they can do such as
improved hacking skills or what weapons they can use.

Using the standard formula of RPG titles, Mass Effect 2 has a wide
gamut of storylines to engage in and not all are connected to the
central tenant of the game. This method gives the illusion of
freedom to the player and almost makes the game a futuristic
sandbox. If you have never played the original game before, don't
fret because you can still jump straight into the sequel without the
convoluted back history.

Of course, if you have played the original,
you do have the option of importing characters over. Unlike those
RPG's that stop and start, Mass Effect is quite a dynamic RPG that
revolves around a third person perspective and really involves a
good level of strategy as you engage the enemy that is reminiscent of
a third person shooter. It even boasts a cover system that is quite competent,
however when you do need to use a skill or item, the game can be
paused. Although combat is the
key to Mass Effect 2, the developers ensure that this is not top
heavy but is well set out throughout the varied missions that you
embark in.

Controlling your characters are easy thanks to
the intuitive menu and if you feel like the RPG aspect is too
complicated, the game can control levelling and the like. The only
issue with the game is that it is a little stop and start at times
and the combat in the game is not as flawless as I hoped.

In terms of weapons, the games contains a healthy myriad that is
similar to those squad based shooter and before embarking on your
missions, you need to stock up from your weapons
lockers on board the Nomandy-SR-2. Of course ammunition can be found
on the battlefield but upgrades and new weapons are transferred to
the Normandy upon purchase. In relations to armour, you need to
return to your quarters on the Normandy and change them over but a
really cool option is that there is an armour editor that allows you
to create your own. So Boba Fett move over!

The skills available to your characters is also streamlined, making
it more accessible to new comers with more workable menus and less
time accessing them. Apart from the RPG aspect of this game, Mass
Effect 2 contains an almost real-time strategy aspect as you explore
the universe with the Normandy. Although it's a top down view, it
allows you to navigate from planet to planet as you search for
resources and missions to engage in. This definitely gives you a
breather from the action orientation of this game as your guns cool
down from blowing aliens and humans into the ether.

Graphically, the background environments that you visit are quite
diverse from amazing planets to claustrophobic cities, the attention
to detail is amazing. The level design not only compliments the
gameplay but enhances it as the worlds you explore mimic the
real-worlds or what you would expect on an alien planet. I remember
one planet that I explored had a similar memorable experience like
the original Star Wars when Luke stared at two moons of Tattooine
which makes you appreciate the game ever more, thanks to the love
that has gone into the creation.

The voice acting of
this game is quite professional and I cannot fault it at all, nor
the impressive ambient sound effect that does change with the action
and story. Of course there are a plethora of sci-fi sound effects
from futuristic guns to lasers, aliens, background sounds and
everything else to make this universe come alive on your XBox 360.
With that said, to truly enjoy this title, a high definition is
needed plus surround sound wouldn't go astray either.

If I had to sum up the game in two words, it would be "captivating"
and "cool" as developers BioWare have really gone beyond the original
and have made a large toy box, even bigger. Although at first, you
do feel quite miniscule to the gaming environment but once you have
found your feet and your guidance, Mass Effect 2 becomes a fun RPG
that is difficult to put down and if you love exploring strange
alien worlds plus battling a variety of strange aliens, than you've
come to the right place. In terms of replay value, some gamers will
return to the Mass Effect 2 universe because there is quite a bit in
this game that you will have missed the first time around. Classic
gaming with a 21st century twist!